|
SCUTTLEBUTT EXTRA - February 14, 2010Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors, providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.An update to supplement Scuttlebutt 3028 AMERICA’S CUP - RACE 2 Valencia, Spain (February 14, 2010) - After a lengthy postponement, the second race of the America’s Cup commenced at 16:24 in six knots, with the challenger BMW Oracle Racing winning the contest. The race victory gave the American team a 2-0 sweep of the defender Alinghi team to win the 33rd Match. Just as in race one, the starting sequence provided early action, but this time it was in the form of an unforced error by Alinghi when they incurred a penalty by improperly being in the start area prior to the time permitted. After that, the start was all for BMW Oracle as they controlled Alinghi from behind as both boats were lined up to start at the port mark. Needing to escape, the defender tacked to port, but a slow turn led to them trailing by 24 seconds off the line, with USA 17 flying fast on starboard. With the teams on split tacks, Alinghi 5 found a second life on the right side of the course when added wind pressure and a clocking shift gave them the advantage. BMW Oracle had tried to get back to the right to cover, but when they saw their deficit, they tacked to starboard below the Alinghi team for the long stretch out to the port layline. The advantage of the right side helped the Swiss team to build a 600 meter lead, a phenomenal turn around given their speed struggles in the first race. To add to this surprise, the Swiss raised a protest flag at about two thirds up the beat. Closing in the port layline, the wind on the left returned, and when BMW Oracle tacked on the layline, the deficit between the teams was down to 50 meters. Alinghi, without enough of a lead to tack above and cover the challenger, crossed and tacked above, thus giving USA 17 the lead to the race. The course was an equilateral triangular race of thirty-nine nautical miles, and with the 13 nm beat completed, BMW Oracle rounded the weather mark to starboard with a 28 second lead and commenced on the two reach legs. USA 17, which proved so dominant offwind in race one, was equally dominant today, quickly growing the lead and rounding the reach mark now with a 2:44 minute margin. The final leg to the finish was a celebration in the amazing performance of USA 17, maintaining speeds in the low 30 knot range. Alinghi had few answers on the final leg, and with the winds strength still manageable and a calm ocean swell, USA 17 was in complete control. The final delta at the finish for USA 17 over Alinghi 5 was 5:26 minutes, with the victorious challenger crossing the finish line in near darkness at 18:34. It is unknown at this time what the protest challenge is from the Alinghi team, but the preliminary information is that the Swiss team would not proceed with the protest. Look for updates on the event website: http://www.americascup.com/en/ MONDAY HOLIDAY The President’s Day holiday in the United States will be observed at Scuttlebutt World Headquarters on February 15, 2010, so look for the Tuesday edition of Scuttlebutt to have the America’s Cup wrap up (pending protest) and much more. |
